Mayhem / Wreck of the Hesperus / Altar of Plagues
29th November, 2007 - The Button Factory - Dublin, Ireland
By Paddy Walsh
Pics by Simon Ward
Having unfortunately missed
Altar of Plagues, it is left to local filth-peddlers
Wreck of the Hesperus to open the night for yon scribe, and as usual their brand of filthy untreated sewage-like dirges provide an ominous scene-setter for the headliners - plodding, sub-sonic doom may not seem like such an obvious opening act for
Mayhem's oncoming assault but, like
SunnO))),
Wreck of the Hesperus weave a terrifyingly oppressive atmosphere that is more thank a match for any black metal band.
With one of the the year's best black metal releases under their belts via
Ordo Ad Chao,
Mayhem might just be a band rejuvinated with the reappeareance of Atilla Csihar in their ranks - a vocalist who's bizarre trademark croak remains a somewhat legendary (not to mention plagiarised) phenomenon in the black metal world. His stage presence, too, has garnered a rather legendary reputation too, what with his penchant for odd costume choices (which recently included a mummy and santa claus). The stage is thus fittingly kitted out with a light up globe, two pigs heads and a pair of ornate candle holders. Attached to the drumkit are a series of religious symbols on papers, with row of further candles behind them. Anyone guess what's coming then?
Atilla strides onto the stage looking like he just escaped a fetish dungeon (see pics), and the band launch into 'Deathcrush'. Atilla's vocals are piercing, terrifying even, and it's soon clear he lends an awful lot to
Mayhem's sometimes lacklustre material. When the band hit their stride they're incredible - 'Illuminate Eliminate' is a crushing example of black metal being dragged through a swamp, and aforementioned 'Deathcrush's punky leanings are much bolstered by a vicious vocal attack courtesy of Atilla. Unfortunately, the night is marred by a very muddy guitar mix that renders several of the songs undistinguishable from the next. 'Freezing Moon' is possibly the worst offender in this regard, as the band were halfway through it by the time I recognised what it was! However, Atilla's animated stage presence still gives the show a dark edge that is well received and, strangely enough, one the main highlights of the night is witnessing some of the Maniac-era material given the Atilla treatment. 'View from Nihil pt. 1' sounds fantastic with the spoken word sections literally spat out by Atilla, and sounds far less ham-fisted than the studio version. Thus
Mayhem just about get away with the poor sound throughout, made up for by the sight of Atilla's bizarre costume and penchant for the burning of religious symbols. Musically, however, this should have been so much better, and the reliance on theatrics is perhaps indicative of a band who's career has always been overshadowed by the notorious goings-on outside the studio or stage than anything they've actually recorded.
